While the Angels took their first wobbly steps into an immediate future without star center fielder Mike Trout, slugger Albert Pujols moved another step closer to history Monday night.
Pujols drove the 598th home run of his career to left-center field in the fourth inning of the Angels’ 6-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves, giving the Angel Stadium crowd reason to cheer on a day Trout went on the disabled list because of a torn left thumb ligament.
Pujols is trying to become the ninth player in major league history to hit 600 home runs, joining Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Alex Rodriguez (696), Willie Mays (660), Ken Griffey Jr.